Exploring the diversity of a collection of native non-Saccharomyces yeasts to develop co-starter cultures for winemaking.

The inoculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae starter cultures in grape musts is a common practice in wineries worldwide; however, native non-Saccharomyces yeast species are increasingly investigated as co-starters to augment the complexity and regionality of wine. In this study, an extensive collection of non-Saccharomyces yeasts from high-sugar matrices was created and screened with the aim to discover new strains with potentially positive oenological traits. After mining >400 yeasts from 167 samples collected across multiple Italian regions, the isolates were identified based on RAPD-PCR analysis and ITS sequencing. About one quarter of them, belonging to the genera Starmerella, Lachancea and Metschnikowia, were picked up for an in-depth molecular and physiological characterization, since these yeasts were well strewed and have a good oenological reputation. Following the genotyping, stress tolerance assays, enzymatic activity trials and single inoculum fermentations, a huge diversity was acknowledged within and between the species. Strains of S. bacillaris showed a high tolerance to ethanol and increased glycerol production, L. thermotolerans reduced volatile acidity while increasing total acidity with lactic acid, and Metschnikowia spp. exhibited remarkable aroma-related enzymatic activities, which are all prized features in winemaking. Since most of the characteristics analyzed were species and strain dependent, the obtained results are valuable for the selection of a new generation of co-starters for attempting mixed fermentation strategies aimed to improve the overall quality of regional wine.